Supermarket chain Lidl has announced plans to create 700 shop-floor and office-based jobs between now and the end of the year.
Lidl says the jobs will be provided across its existing network of 176 stores, at its three regional distribution centres and at its Irish head office in Dublin.
The company says the new jobs will increase the number of people it employs in the Republic to more than 6,000 for the first time. The company employs another 1,500 people in Northern Ireland.
Lidl plans to open new stores later this year in Kilkenny, Limerick, Bettystown in Co Meath and Ballincollig in Co Cork, under a €550m expansion plan announced in 2021.
The company says it will also complete a €75m extension this year of its regional distribution centre in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
Today's announcement was made at the Lidl store at Carrigaline in Co Cork.
Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Simon Coveney said Lidl's story in Ireland since the company opened its first stores here 20 years ago was one of growth.
"Lidl's decision to hire an additional 700 employees this year is a real vote of confidence in the company's long-term commitment to the Irish retail sector and the Irish economy as a whole," Minister Coveney said.
"It's a very proud moment for us to reach the milestone of more than 6,000 employees in the Republic of Ireland and demonstrates the commitment we have in growing our footprint in our Irish operations," Lidl's Chief People Officer for Ireland and Northern Ireland Maeve McCleane said.
Lidl also says that from March 1 it will increase payscales by an average of 7.5% for employees.
It says this increase will be on top of a commitment last October to pay the new living wage rate of €13.85 per hour.
